FIGHTING THE EPIDEMIC.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 429, 26 November 1918, Page 2

FIGHTING THE EPIDEMIC.

HOSPITAL AT PUKEKOHE. In accordance with arrangement) made, after conference, on Shndaj last, with Mr W. Wallace (Chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board), ai reported elsewhere in this issue, th< Pukekohe Public School has beei transformed into a temporary hos pital for the benefit of sufferers fron the borough and adjacent country districts. In view of a possible emergency the building had been prepared foi the purpose last week, a willing band of workers thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the premises. Thu everything was well forward to per mit of the admission of patients immediately that step was deemet advisable. With the local doctor advising in favour of a hospital beinj opened, an emergency meeting of th< Borough Council was held las Saturday morning, and it was re solved to proceed with the under taking, subject to the Hospital Board agreeing to appoint a matron, the Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Mason), Crs, Barter and Hamilton, Mrs J. F Martin, and Mrs Nixon being ap> pointed as an executive committee o management. On Sunday Mr Wal lace and other representatives of tha Hospital Board visited Pukekohe, and expressed satisfaction with what had been done, and powers of autho rity to control the administration were given to the executive com' mittee, the Hospital Board assuming all financial responsibility. The | visitors recognised that Pukekohe formed a desirable centre, which for hospital purposes should serve all ' the surrounding country. The first batch of patients was admitted on Saturday evening, and others on Sunday. and yesterday, whilst this morning the total of inmates was 12, viz., 3 women, 3 children and 6 men. All but two of . the patients come from outside the 1 borough. Three rooms are, up to the present, being used as wards, but additional rooms will be utilised 1 as occasion requires. The present 1 patients hail from Bombay, Puke* ' kohe East, Pukekawa, and the 1 borough. A death occurred in the hospital yesterday (Monday) morning, namely that of a local Chinese gardener, who was in a critical condition when admitted, whilst Mrs S. Allison, of Bombay, succumbed last night. The volunteer nursing staff includes Mesdames Palmer, Richards, H. A. Stuart and Lusher, and Miss Gordon, whilst Mrs J. F. Martin is at the head of a band of ladies who are undertaking the commissariat department. Relays of men nurses are also constantly on duty. Mr T. F. Valentine, of Bombay, who iui qualified chemist, is acting as hospital superintendent Sister Tozer arrived from Auckland this morning to take charge as matron. The Hospital Board's horsed ambulance, which has its head-quarters at the Franklin County Council'a depot, in Hall Street, is being utilised for the transport of local patients, cases from further afield being brought in by motor cars. The telephone has been laid on to the hospital by means of an extension of the Rev J. P. Cowie's line, the hospital numbers being as follows : -No 468, office; No. 46r, kitchen. Applications for admission can also be made to the Town Clerk (telephone No. 53.) We are requested to state that in the meantime the Rev. Cowie's number is 46m. Three Boy Scouts—namely Allen Davey, Nelson Crisp, and Basil Walters—are in attendance at the hospital, and are rendering valuable assistance as messengers.